Spurs' Joseph basks in Canadian basketball boom

Jeff McDonal, Express-News

By Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News

Updated 1:02 pm, Tuesday, December 10, 2013

San Antonio Spurs' Cory Joseph brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 112-93. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

San Antonio Spurs' Cory Joseph brings the ball up court against the...

As Joseph returns to his hometown for Tuesday's game against the Raptors, even he can't help but be shocked by how far Canadian basketball has come.

Joseph is one of 10 Canadians on an NBA roster, a number only likely to increase in the coming seasons.

“I always tell everybody, we always had a lot of good talent,” Joseph said. “Now I think a lot of guys are taking their talents down south. There's more exposure. That's the difference.”

In that, the 22-year-old Joseph is a pioneer of sorts. His decision to join fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson at Texas in 2010 helped open the United States' northern border to a basketball invasion.

Thompson became a lottery pick of the Cavaliers, the same season the Spurs took Joseph in the first round.

“The younger guys watch the older guys,” Joseph said. “Me and Tristan went down south. They see how we did it. Now Canada basketball is growing up.”

In June of this year, Cleveland made UNLV's Anthony Bennett the first Canadian to be selected No. 1 in the NBA draft. Canada could make it two in a row next year, with Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins a prime prospect as the top pick.

Eventually, Joseph hopes that talent begins to manifest itself on the international stage.

Canada's national team, of which Nash serves as general manager, has not qualified for the Olympics since 2000. At last summer's FIBA Tournament of the Americas in Venezuela, the Canadians finished a disappointing sixth.

“It's still a learning process for us,” Joseph said. “As guys get older and play more with each other, we're going to be good.”

Green struggling: Spurs guard Danny Green still is mired in a deep shooting slump that has lasted for two weeks.

Since making 5 of 7 on 3-pointers against the Cavs on Nov. 23, Green has made only 5 of 22 long-range attempts. During the past three games, he is 2 of 12 and 5 of 19 overall.

“I've got to take my time, not think about it too much and not get too excited about actually having an open look,” he said.

Re-assignments: Forward-center Aron Baynes and guard Nando De Colo made the trip to Toronto after spending Monday playing with the Development League's Austin Toros.

Recently signed forward Malcolm Thomas will remain with the Toros for the time being.